The UAE has approved a new package of traffic regulations that will come into force on January 1, 2027. Under Cabinet Decision No. 174 of 2026, motorists will no longer be allowed to drive for more than nine hours within any 24-hour period. The rule also bars driving while fatigued or exhausted to a degree that could affect safe driving, giving authorities a clear benchmark for enforcement.

The Federal Traffic Council has been given the authority to adjust the nine-hour limit in the future if road safety data calls for it. Alongside the driving-hours cap, the regulations introduce a limit on vehicle ownership: residents will be able to register up to five vehicles in their name, with an extra fee applying to the third, fourth and fifth vehicle. Previously there was no cap on how many cars a single person could register.

Drivers will also gain the option of registering a vehicle for two years at once instead of renewing annually. The minimum age for riding e-scooters is being lowered to 15, while licence validity periods are now tied to age and nationality: Emirati and other GCC nationals will hold licences valid for ten years, while expatriate residents over the age of 21 will renew every five years. Eyesight standards for bus drivers and operators of heavy machinery have also been tightened.

Officials say the package is designed to improve road safety and reduce fatigue-related accidents, which remain a leading cause of serious collisions on UAE highways. The rules apply to all drivers living in the UAE, citizens and expatriates alike, and will take full legal effect from the start of 2027, giving residents and companies more than a year to adjust.